.. post season apathy upon us - just got to musing who I'd pick for my first team in the Euros if I was Roy ... weighed it up ... focused on picking a 'team' rather than the 11 best individuals ... tried to base it on current form and the ability to play together, given all the shenanigans going on in the game currently with court cases etc - so this is mine: Joe Hart - really no alternative for first choice. Leighton Baines - partly for set piece ability Phil Jones - got a touch of class for a CB Joleon Lescott - Saturday's mistake aside, has been a real factor in Man City's success - plus Hart will be familiar with him Kyle Walker - had a superb season and will get forward as he does for Spurs Adam Johnson - we need genuine pace and threat from the left for this team, tactically. Scott Parker - we need effective cover in fron of CBs and, for me, he is the best Englishman in that role currently Steven Gerrard (Captain) - should still be relatively fresh given the number of games he has played and is just regaining top form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - same reasons as for Adam Johnson - plus the boy ltracks back and seems to have a touch of something special Wayne Rooney - best player in England currently Andy Carroll - has looked a real handful in recent weeks and we are not going to progress with silky football because we are not technically good enough (just being honest) - therefore we need to play in a way that the silkier teams will find difficult to deal with. Obviously this will not be everybody's cup of tea - and I look forward to the alternatives that people will come up -but my thinking is that Roy can afford to be off the wall - nbody in their right mind can expect us to win this on our recent tournament history. The taem I picked would focus on getting in wide positions as often as posiible and putting it where Carroll can disrupt things (hence a preference for Leighton Baines rather than Ashley Cole) - no doubt some peple will cite Peter Crouch's goal record - but Crouch tends to get his goals against relative minnows on the world stage and, for me, is cannon fodder for genuinely good defenders because they out battle him and he just ends up trying to foul them - Carroll (rather like our own Emile Heskey has a physical presence that means he doesn't have to foul to win more challenges than he loses) Anyway - that's my lot - look forward to what others think
Hart Walker Ferdinand Cahill Cole Parker Gerrard Lampard (purely because there is no one else) Young Sturridge Welbeck Subs- Stockdale, Glen Johnson, Jones, Barry, Walcott, Chamberlain, Defoe
If everyone was fit, not suspended and wasnt racist Hart Walker Ferdinand Terry Cole Wilshere Parker Gerrard Young Sturridge Rooney
Sir Alex has been hinting that Rio isn't that fit - personally I also think he is too slow now at the top level
I'd fogotten that Roy won't be able to pick Rooney for the first two games -I'd probably still go with Carroll and, whilst I can't stand the little git as a person, play Defoe - he does put the ball in the onion bag more than Sturridge, Wellbeck etc ... how about Grant Holt and Carroll together - that would put the wind up the continentals!!
hart (obvs) Walker (just edged in) Cahill (class) Terry (just a few bad games, still quality)/Jones (needs to play more games at CB for man utd- a real one for the future). Cole (defensively the best LB in the world still) Parker (if fit- if not Barry) Gerrard (energy and class; heart on his sleeve) Cleverley (to create)/Scholes (1st choice, but doubt he would) Walcott (sad but no really a better option down the right in a 4-3-3) Young (has to be) Holt (what a season- have to take a gamble and take him, even if he doesnt play by not looking great in training) Note: Sturridge is a good option to have. Does pilkington have the best delivery from the left? Rooney should not the the main striker, but rather just behind them. Adam johnson is the most technically gifted player for years, but doesnt play. For the good of the countryhe simply HAS to move.
For the first game, with Rooney out, I'd go for: Hart Richards Cahill Lescott Cole Lampard Parker (Carrick if not fit) Gerrard (C) Walcott Welbeck Young Subs: Foster; Ruddy; Jones; Walker; Baines; Carrick (Cleverley if Parker's unfit); Barry; Johnson; Sturridge; Crouch; Defoe + Rooney after ban.
Greatness - I very nearly had Richards alongside Lescott as my CB pairing - on basis that they, together with Hart, will know how each other will play .. Can't agree with your midfield 3 - don't think I've sever seen Gerrard and Lampard play well together for England and with Parker in as well I think, collectively, they are too old and would get embarraseed against Spain (not that I'm expecting that we'll get that far) - but Roy will have to be a brave man not to include them both Walcott as a striker is something I would be in favour of - but i'd prefer Oxlade-Chamberlain as a wide right / midfield option
Will Walker be fit? Got subbed off injured yesterday, hopefully it wasn't a nasty one. Hopefully Bent will be fit too. No coincidence that Villa's bad form coincided with them losing their best player. For the striker I'd take Holt, Rooney, Bent and Carroll. I'd take Young, AOL, Walcott and Sturridge for the wings. In midfield I'd have Lampard, Parker, Gerrard, Cleverley and I'd try to get Scholes out of retirement. Centre backs I'd take Terry, Cahill and Lescott. Fullbacks I'd take Walker, Richards, Baines and Cole. In goals I'd have Hart, Foster and Robinson. That's me assuming its a 23 man squad. Hart Walker Cahill Terry Cole Parker Gerrard Young Lampard Walcott Rooney
To be honest, even I can't agree with my midfield 3 but you have to ask; who else is there? Two of the bright, young, ball-playing midfielders we have and crave (Wilshere and Cleverley) have been curtailed through injuries - they would have been certainties for me otherwise. With the up and coming young CM's (McEachran, Shelvey, Barkley etc.), this tournament will have come too early for them. Maybe Leon Britton was worth a shout but the options past those five I've picked aren't great - we're probably looking at (bearing in mind players like Rodwell & Huddlestone are also injured) Britton, M Davies, Henderson, Gardner. When Rooney's back, I'd look at playing him in behind a main striker in the 'Number 10' role where I think he can be more of a threat and have more of an influence. I would then only play two of the CM's in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Ben Foster has said he won't be coming out of retirement: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...-his-overtures-and-Scott-Parker-is-doubt.html Guess that leaves Rob Green as back-up along with John Ruddy for me.
I think Kasper should declare for England. Apart from Joe Hart i dont think there is any one better then Schmeichel When people like Joe Lewis, Scott Loach, Frankie Fielding can get into the England set up then i stand half a chance. Even David Stockdale is the 2nd choice keeper and he isnt even number 1 at club level
Davis is a classy Goalkeeper and is actually English. Would be next on my list. Anyone but that **** Rob Green,
But he has failed everytime he has been in the prem. Too old and not the answer, if we want an OAP we might aswell stick with David James. At least he has the experience. Aslong as Joe Hart dont get injured or sent off we will be fine
I would for experience. If he stayed fit all season I think he'd have been first name for a lot of people. Would be good experience for him, can do a job if needed. Could say the same for Spearing.
I would for experience. If he stayed fit all season I think he'd have been first name for a lot of people. Would be good experience for him, can do a job if needed. Could say the same for Spearing.
Cleverley cant seem to be able to stay fit for a decent amount of time Spearing is out of his depth at a top 10 prem club
